Zipper operator



Aug. 1955 D. A. REIFSTECK ETAL 3,201839 ZIPPER OPERATOR Filed June 27, 1963 FIG.2

FIG.I

DONALD A. REIFSTECK RICHARD L. REIFSTECK INVENTORS DONALD E. REIFSTECK /T OR Y United States Patent O 3201,839 ZIPIER OPERATOR Donald A. Reifsteck, Richard L. Reifsteck, and Donald E. Reifsteck, all of P.O. Box 71, Hnnover, Eli. Filed Inne 27, 1963, Sex. N0. 292,199 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-205.15)

Thet present invention relates generally to operators for slide fasteners of the type generally referred to as zippers and particularly to Operators constructed and arranged to prevent the zipper from catching onto the cloth of undergarments underlying zipper.

The object and general nature of this invention is the provision of a zipper operator particularly adapted to close the zipper at the back of a womans dress, where the Zipper usually extends from the waist up t-o the neck. More specifically, it is a feature of this invention to provide a zipper operator -that readily perrnits one to close the zipper on her own dress, even to rnove the zipper all the way from the waist up to the upper portion of the dress at the neck, Without requiring the assistance of another person.

Preferably, according t-o this invention, the zipper operator includes an elongated shield or guard that is adapted to be placed between the zipper and the adjacent undergarment and to extend upwardly far enough to perm-it the user to reach and engage the upper end thereof by reaching over her shoulder. Anotber feature of (bis invention resides in the connection of the zipper-engaging part by n1eans cf a relatively 1ong flexible element so tbat the zipper-engaging part, Which may be a hook er the 1ike, rnay be readily engaged witb the zipper by the user reaching around back of her waist while the upper end Of the shield extends upwardly far enough to perrnit the user to grasp the sbield by reaching back over her shoulder.

These and other objects and advantages of (bis invention Will be apparetnt to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the ac companying drawings illustrating said embodiment.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the device of the present invention in use.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the device of 0111 invention disassociated from -tbe dress of the user.

Our new and improved zipper operator consists of an elongated -shield 1 formed of any Suitable pliable plastic and comprising a strip or sheet abont 24 incbes long, four inches wide and of suflicient thickness that the shield is self-supported but quite flexible so tbat it may readily be inserted between the wearers dress and the associated undergarment. The ends of the shield 1 are rounded and at the upper end (FIG. 2) tbere is a thumb hole 3. The length of the shield 1 is chosen to be about two r three inches longer tban the standard dress zipper, which usually is twenty two inches.

A conventional zipper includes a slide 5 having a pivoted pull tab 6 baving an opening 7. Our zippcr operator is provided with a tab-engaging member, such as a hook 8, carried at the lower end of a nylon cord or other suitable strand, shown at 9. The other end of the cord 9 is fastened in any suitable way to the upper portion of the shield l, such as adjacent the thumb hole 3. Thus, the cord is almost as long as the length of 3,201,839 Paented Aug. 24, 1965 ice the sbield itself. A swivel 10 may be provided between the hook 8 and the lower end of the cord 9, if desired. The upper end of the cord 9 may be secured to the shield by providing a pair of openings in the shield, as indicated at 12, and tying the cord to the shield. Other suitable rneans may be used.

In using the zipper operator of this invention, before putting on her dress the user inserts the hook 3 in the opening in the zipper tab 6 and then puts on the dress. Next the user inserts the lower portion of the shield in place between the zipper and the undergarment, far enough that the shield rernains in an upright position With the upper end adjacent the upper part of the dress. This is possible because the cord 9 extends alrnost the entire length of the shield. The user tben with one band straightens the material and grasps the dress below the zipper and then with the other band reaches back over her shoulder and inserts the thumb of the other band into the thumb hole 3. Tben, While With the one band she bolds the dress down the user pulls slowly upwardly on the shield which acts through the cord t0 pull the zipper up into its closed position. The user then disengages the hook 8 from the zipper, thus releasing the zipper operator.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A zipper operator for a womans dress having at the back a zipper extending generally from the waist to the back of the neck of the wearer, said operator comprising: a flattened semi-flexible self-supporting elongated member having a lower end portion and an upper end portion, the lower end portion being adapted to be inserted between the Waist portion of the dress and the body of the user, the elongated member being of such lengtb that when the lower portion is disposed between the waist portion of the dress and the waist of the user that the upper portion of the elongated member is adjacent the neck cf the user, a flexible hook carrying element having a zipper tab engaging hook at the lower end thereof, the upper end of said flexible hook carrying element being secured to the upper end portion of the elongated member, the hook and flexible element being of such a relative length to the flattened elongated member that the hook is disposed over the lower end portion of the elongated memher, and a finger receiving aperture in the upper end portion between the upper end of the flexible hook carrying element and the upper end of the elongated member, the parts being so ar-ranged and constructed that the elongated member may be grasped when the lower portion is disposed between the waist of the dress and the waist of the user by the user reaching back over her shoulder With either band and engaging the aperture with a finger whereby the zipper tab rnay be pulled up.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2811763 11/57 Jordan 24205.15.5 2,820273 1/58 McColly 24205.15.5 2939193 6/60 Morgan 24--205.15.5 3,017680 1/62 Duncan 24205.15.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 109,267 12/ 39 Australia.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

